Antam projects 10% rise in Pongkor gold output

Publicly listed gold and nickel company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) predicts this year's gold output from its mine in Pongkor, West Java, will rise about 10 percent, The Jakarta Post reported on Thursday.

Antam president Deddy Aditya Sumanagara said on Wednesday the production increase from about 2,900 kilograms last year would be possible largely due to better security measures against illegal mining at the site.

"There will definitely be a rise in our gold production, although the situation is not entirely secure yet," Deddy said after a hearing with House of Representatives Commission VIII on energy and mining.

Deddy said Antam's nickel production would increase from 5 percent to 10 percent from last year's 9,221 metric tons. (*)